KOCHI:
Patients and bystanders at the Government General hospital were treated to the rare sight of an 11-year-old matching a professional singer note for note as she belted out popular Malayalam melodies at the weekly Arts and Medicine show today.
Jenifer Alice, a sixth grade student at Assisi Vidyaniketan Public School, Perumpilly, joined singer Joji Vypeen in the 183rd edition of the all-Wednesday programme organized by the Kochi Biennale Foundation.
The audience greeted each of Jenifer’s performances with rousing applause in appreciation of her beautiful voice and praiseworthy control over it.
Joji opened the programme with the song, ‘En Swaram Poovidum Gaaname’, from the 1979 movie Anupallavi followed by the evergreen , ‘Alliyambal Kadavil’ from the movie, Rosie . Jenifer followed with, ‘Neela Jalashayathil’. The duets, ‘Pookal Panineer Pookal’ and ‘Ambalapuzha Unni kannanodu’ set the crowd grooving to the tempo and rhythm. Together they performed 14 songs for the show.
Vocalist Joji, who has dedicated over thirty years of his life to music, is a church choir singer and participates in music troupes. Jenifer, has recorded for ‘Paithal’, a music album, and sings for ‘Voice of Goodness’, a reality show in a leading spiritual channel.
The Arts and Medicine programme, since its inception in 2014, has garnered quite a few fans who are regular attendees; and a number of professional and amateur artists have sung for the patients at the hospital.
“It is an honour to be part of the Kochi Biennale Foundation’s efforts to provide patients a venue for soulful music. The satisfied expression on their faces is the most rewarding part for our performances,” said singer Joji.
“I am blessed by this opportunity to be a source of happiness for the patients, and these renditions which mean so much to them,” said Jenifer whose family encourages her every step of the way.
Arts and Medicine’ is an initiative of the KBF in association with Mehboob Memorial Orchestra and is sponsored by CAFS (Casino Air Caterers & Flight Services) aimed to provide solace to patients through therapeutic live music.
